This Mornin'... Namesake Songs:

Mission Statement....

I decided to start this blog first and foremost for the music. I found myself spending a lot of time reading blogs - but there were so many of my favorite artists that weren't getting enough (or any) attention. So, my solution: start my own blog so I could talk about the artists and topics that I wanted to read about. There is no formal structure to this blog - I simply write about music that makes a certain impact on me. Also, I'm not here to give official album reviews or complete artist bios. I will provide enough info to get you interested, but I'll let the music speak for itself - it's much better than listening to me, anyway. So if you dig the folk/americana/indie scene and want to learn about some artists that don't get the recognition they deserve, keep checkin' back to see what I have to say. Don't be afraid to leave a comment and tell me what you think. Cheers.

Disclaimer

All mp3 files posted here are for sampling purposes only. Take what you want, but move fast because they expire (normally within a month or two). If you like what you hear, go out and support the artists by buying their stuff. If you are the artist/rep and want immediate removal of any file please email me (Payton@ThisMornin.com) directly and I will remove it.

Monday, February 18, 2008

New Digs......

Ok, so i didn't even make two weeks in a row gettin my new digs out on time. i went back home for a wedding this past weekend and never found time. And then yesterday, my songs were somewhat inaccessible due to a much needed relocation and reorganization of my library to an external hard drive. i guess i just can't take the chance of my iPod donkeyin' off all my songs again. But never fear, better late than never, and all those clichés.

These first two tracks come simply from diggin' deeper into a couple of the artists mentioned on last week's 'New Digs':

The closing track from their lastest release didn't hit me as a great song on the first listen. i definately noticed the dark, cynical lyrics, but nothing more. Upon further review, i caught the irony in the song. Will Scheff takes some sort of 'suicide-note lyric' and creates an hugely theatrical, uplifting tune (had to look this up, but John Allyn Smith was John Berryman's original name. He was a poet that committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in '72).

Scheff claims that "by the second verse, [his] head will burst, [his] life will end", and he doesn't disappoint. What he means by his head bursting is that the band will break into a, somehow fitting, rockin' rendition of The Beach Boys' Sloop John B. If the title doesn't ring a bell, take a listen - the melody is unmistakeable. Nice album-ender.

mp3:The Roadside Graves - Jesus Is A Friend of the Family ~ from If Shacking Up Is All You Want To Do (Self-Released album available only from the band)

Trips to the closest things to record stores in College Station (i.e. Hastings and Best Buy) proved futile for finding and Roadside Graves or Felice Brothers - two bands on the top of my wishlist. But i did come across this little song from the Graves. I still don't know if i'm supposed to laugh at it, but i do - everytime.

Earlier this year, i went to visit some friends in Hunstville and happened to catch this guy at The Stardust Room. Had some kick-ass fish tacos at this cool little listening room/bar. i didn't get to stay for the whole set, but i definately remembered this song. So, naturally, i was pumped when i found it for download on his MySpace. An inwardly reflective, slow tune that closes out his '07 release. Note the strange, but clever, use of cricket chirps almost indiscerable in the background.

This was the first song of Donovan's i ever heard. It was a long time ago, and i nearly forgot about the guy until, a couple weeks ago on one of the aformentioned failed trips to Hastings, i picked up Don't Look Back- yet another Dylan Documentary i now own. There's a really cool scene where both Dylan and Donovan (often compared to each other) are hangin' in the same hotel room with a bunch of other beatniks. They each play a song - Dylan It's All Over Now, Baby Blue and DonovanTo Sing For You - and both give meager, but approving nods across the room.